Hamas reportedly has about 30,000 to 40,000 elite troops spread across five brigades, while the total number of militias in Gaza is close to 50,000. However, since launching a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, which killed more than 5,000 Israelis**, Hamas appears to have fallen into a state of passive defense. Since the second phase of the IDF ground offensive began on 28 October, head-to-head encounters between Hamas and Israel have become rare, raising questions about the fate of the militants, who may have lost more than half.
Health authorities in Gaza have reported that the conflict has resulted in 11,240 deaths, including 4,630 children. After deducting children and civilians**, the IDF claims to have killed thousands of Hamas militants. These combat losses became one of the main reasons for the weakening of Hamas's military power.
The current situation indicates that, in addition to the original Hamas militants in southern Gaza, some members from the north have fled to the south. It is estimated that these people may not return to the battlefield.
Using ground-penetrating bombs, bulldozers, concrete mixers and water and fire attacks, the Israeli army has destroyed more than 150 underground tunnels and closed 300 tunnel entrances. It is speculated that many Hamas soldiers may be buried in the ground, and the exact number is difficult to estimate, but there are certainly quite a few of them.
Given the huge disparity in equipment and strength between the two sides, the tactical options that Hamas is able to adopt are already very limited.